The Gulf Stream is slowing down and it could be catastrophic. As the most important ocean current in the Northern Hemisphere, the Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the icy waters of Greenland where it cools, sinks and returns south. Without it, our whole weather system would be out of whack. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But climate change is now warming the ocean, slowing the sinking, and putting the brakes on the entire circulation process, so much so that the Gulf Stream is the weakest it’s been in 1,600 years. Climate scientists predict the Gulf Stream could slow as much as 30 percent by the end of the 21st century, which seems far away, but it has already slowed 15-20 percent. If the Gulf Stream continues to weaken it could wreak havoc. Here’s how…
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In Europe, you can expect worse summer heat waves and more intense winter storms. In Africa, symptoms would show as severe drought. And in the U.S. it will add to rising seas, flooding on the east coast and even more devastating hurricanes. The more informed we are, the more empowered we are. These are #climatefacts share widely.